Jets-Titans connection could quietly lead to a surprise QB trade

The NFL is all about relationships. Find the connections, and you can predict a lot of player movement. For example, former New York Jets edge rusher Bryce Huff first moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles via the Joe Douglas connection, and then bounced from Philly to the San Francisco 49ers due to the Robert Saleh link.

While there's no shared history between Jets general manager Darren Mougey and Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, the two have built a nice working relationship as a pair of rookie roster architects. The pair combined for an early-season trade that brought Jarvis Brownlee to New York.

The link between the two franchises got stronger this offseason when Tennessee gave Saleh another shot as a head coach, a development that clearly facilitated the Jermaine Johnson-T'Vondre Sweat swap.

It's clear the Jets like some of the pieces that Tennessee has to offer, and the Titans have become a willing partner. The question now is, could this relationship go deeper? The biggest question mark facing New York is who will be under center in 2026, and as Borgonzi reshapes his roster, one has to wonder what his plans are for fourth-year signal caller Will Levis.

Budding relationship between Jets and Titans could put Will Levis on Darren Mougey's radar

Levis was already on shaky ground in Tennessee when the Titans picked Cam Ward first overall last year, and that was before he underwent shoulder surgery that knocked him out of the 2025 season.

The 2023 second-rounder is entering the final year of his rookie contract. With Ward turning in a promising rookie season, it's doubtful that much of an opportunity remains for the University of Kentucky product over in Nashville. That could motivate the Titans to trade him this offseason in order to recoup some sort of asset, rather than let him walk next March for nothing.

New York's dreams of landing Fernando Mendoza are dead. The rest of the rookie QB class leaves something to be desired, meaning the second overall pick is destined to be used on an impact defender on the edge like Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain Jr.

That's led to an endless stream of rumors that have the Jets targeting everyone from Kyler Murray to Mac Jones to the one who got away in Kirk Cousins, and beyond. Murray is the name most hyped up by the media, but there are some real red flags.

2027 now seems like the year the Jets will draft a highly-touted QB, but rather than betting on a high-priced veteran or one of the typical bridge options, why not gamble on a youngster who still has potential in Levis?

At six-foot-four, 229 pounds, Levis is the prototypical big-armed pocket passer that offensive coordinator Frank Reich favors. His rocket arm can make all the throws, and he's got enough athleticism to be able to move around the pocket and let plays develop.

Accuracy has been the knock on the 26-year-old, but he improved his completion percentage from 58.4% in 2023 to 63.1% in 2024. His 73.4% adjusted completion percentage in 2024 ranked 28th in the league, but came in ahead of names like Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Mac Jones, among others.

With a cap hit of just over $3 million, he'd be an affordable option that would clear the way for more spending to build out the rest of the roster, and as an expiring contract, he'd be easy to cut bait with if things didn't work out.

Levis would be a low-risk, high-reward project for the Jets to undertake. If he plays well, he can be extended, and the long festering position might finally be solved. If not, the Jets have three first-round picks and a wealth of other assets to go get a franchise field general in the 2027 draft.

The past dealings between these two clubs should make the trade cost reasonable, should Mougey truly want to pursue this route. In a world of flawed options, this might just be the best path forward.